What is Death?

Two Deaths

The Body Returns to Dust

The Departing of the Soul – Old Testament

The Departing of the Soul – New Testament

At Death, the Soul does not yet Die

The Departing of the Spirit – Old Testament

The Departing of the Spirit – New Testament

The Abode of the Spirit after Physical Death

The Pouring out of Jesus’ Soul at His Physical Death

Christians have Died with Christ

Two Deaths

First Death = Physical Death
Second Death = Judgment Day
- And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Rev 20:12-14, see also Rev 20:6, Rev 21:8)

The Body Returns to Dust

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

(Gen 3:19)

For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

(Ecc 3:19-21)

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

(Dan 12:2)

His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

(Psa 146:4) – Note: the word ‘breath’ is literally ‘spirit’.

Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

(Psa 90:3)

If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

(Job 34:14-15)

My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

(Psa 22:15)

They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

(Job 21:26)

All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

(Psa 22:29)

Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.

(Psa 104:29)

And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

(Job 7:21)

His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

(Job 20:11)

The Departing of the Soul – Old Testament

And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

(Gen 35:18-19)

And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again. And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.

(1Ki 17:21-23)

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

(Psa 16:10)

All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

(Psa 22:29)

Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

(Psa 33:18-19)

With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

(Psa 35:16-17)

Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

(Psa 40:14)

Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

(Psa 116:7-9)

She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while it was yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD.

(Jer 15:9)

The Departing of the Soul – New Testament

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

(Luk 12:20)

Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption…He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

(Act 2:27, 31)

Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?

(Luk 6:9) – Note: the word ‘life’ is the Greek word for ‘soul’

Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Act 15:26) – Note: the word ‘life’ is the Greek word for ‘soul’

And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things…Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

(Acts 5:5,10) – Note: the phrase ‘gave / yield up the ghost’ is the Greek word ‘ekpsucho’ (G1634) which means that the soul came out (psucho is the word for ‘soul’)

And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

(Acts 12:23) – Note: the phrase ‘gave up the ghost’ is the Greek word ‘ekpsucho’ (G1634) which means that the soul came out (psucho is the word for ‘soul’)

And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.

(Act 27:10) – Note: the word ‘lives’ is the Greek word for ‘soul’

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

(Rev 12:11) – Note: the word ‘life’ is the Greek word for ‘soul’

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

(Rev 20:4)

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

(Rev 6:9)

Living things were numbered as souls:

And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

(Rev 8:9) – Note: the word ‘life’ is the Greek word for ‘soul’

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

(Act 2:41)

Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.

(Act 7:14)

And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

(Act 27:37)

At Death, the Soul does not yet Die

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

(Mat 10:28)

The Departing of the Spirit – Old Testament

Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

(Ecc 12:5-7)

(Ecc 3:19-21)

His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

(Psa 146:4) – Note: breath is literally ‘spirit’ in the Hebrew language

If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

(Job 34:14-15)

Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

(Psa 31:5)

The Departing of the Spirit – New Testament

In the New Testament, the Greek word for ‘spirit’ is the word ‘pneuma’ and occurs about 385 times in the New Testament. Of these 385 occurrences, about 90 occurrences are the ‘Holy Spirit’ and about another 50 times as an ‘evil spirit’ or an angel. The following uses of the word ‘spirit’ relate to the spirit of a human being departing at physical death.

While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

(Luk 8:49-55)

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

(Jas 2:26)

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

(Act 7:59-60)

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

(Luk 23:46)

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

(Joh 19:30)

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

(Mat 27:50)

The Abode of the Spirit after Physical Death

(Ecc 12:5-7 – All spirits of people return to the Father of spirits – Heb 12:9))

And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

(Numbers 16:22)

Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

(Numbers 27:16)

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

(John 4:24)

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

(2 Corinthians 3:17)

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

(Job 12:10)

(Act 7:59-60)

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

(Luk 23:46)

If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

(Job 34:14-15)

Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

(Psa 31:5)

(Ecc 3:19-21)

Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

(Isaiah 42:5)

The Pouring out of Jesus’ Soul at His Physical Death

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

(Isa 53:10-12)

But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

(Gen 9:4)

And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.

(Lev 17:10-14)

Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.

(Deu 12:23)

Christians have Died with Christ

Died with Him

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

(Rom 7:4-6)

For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

(Gal 2:19-20)

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

(Col 2:20)

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

(1Pe 2:24)

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

(Col 3:3-5)

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

(Rom 6:1-2)

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

(Rom 6:6-14)

Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

(Rom 7:1-2)

Buried with Him

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection

(Rom 6:3-5)

In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

(Col 2:11-14)

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

(1Co 12:13)

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

(Gal 3:27)

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

(1Pe 3:21)

Crucified with Him

(Gal 2:19-20)

And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

(Gal 5:24)

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

(Rom 6:5-7)

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

(Gal 6:14)